Brodhead Creek

Upper Brodhead:
Canadensis to Paradise Creek fork.

Access: The most classic section is miracle Mile. Put in just downstream of a white farm house where there is a guardrail next to the creek. Park on the east side at a makeshift parking lot. Park smart for space. Take out at the Alpine Mountain Bridge. For a longer float there is more fun rapids downstream with longer pools. I like to take out at the USGS guage with a big and puddle filled parking lot. It's roadside below this, so you can certainly keep floating if it looks good to you. Most of the stream side is heavily posted, but the road is never to far away, and most of it is just fishers wanting to keep their hole to themselves. They won't be out when you are floating and the river is dark.

Bonus water: There is an upper stretch that has some really great rapids and some really long marshes with multiple portages because of strainers. Put in at the church in Canadensis. Maybe someone with a better memory than mine can run it, and figure out access to run the fun stuff and skip the portages.

Character: Overall there are some easy rapids similar to the harder stuff on Lehigh in a smaller stream bed. Then there are some fun bedrock rapids with slides and ledges. Scout and set safety as you feel the necessity. Look for the river wide horizon lines. The main hazard is a rapid with a giant root ball facing upstream just below a sticky hole which likes to hold empty boats. The weakest part of the hole is right of center, but brings you closer to the the root ball. Pick your poison.

Levels: Others have said 2.5ft is minimum, and that is probably true. If you lived next door to this creek I'm sure it runs lower still. I think 3ft is probably the bottom of good, with more water making it better. I haven't seen it above 3.8 but I'm sure it's great. Reputation is 4.5+ is IV boating. Use the analomink gauge.